To better situate you, we are located in the interior of the community but only 20 kilometers from Ribadesella and the eastern coast of Asturias, and even less from the mountains of Picos de Europa. Arriondas is a town of about 3,000 inhabitants, capital of the Council of Parres and marked by the union of the waters of two rivers, the Piloña and the internationally known river Sella.
Today I tell you what are the main attractions to visit in Arriondas and the surrounding area. From the route of Indian architecture, the famous descent of the Sella in canoe and an incredible natural environment that takes the hiccups away.
The best things to see in Arriondas (Asturias)
This compilation is designed to enjoy a very complete day with the best places to see in Arriondas and more active tourism and gastronomic plans. Also, I tell you about some cool activities in the surroundings of Arriondas and just at the end I leave you a location map.
Indian Houses in Arriondas
This is one of the main attractions of Arriondas and a distinctive feature of a lot of Asturian towns in these parts. The influence of the Indianos, emigrants who left for the American continent during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century and returned with great fortunes, can be felt very strongly in the architecture of the town.
The historic center of Arriondas has several palatial houses of Indian style that are worth visiting. These include Villa Juanita, Casa Cepa or Chalet de los Valle, Casa Mirayes, Casa Labra, La Teyería or Villa María. Many of them are located in the main artery of the city, Argüelles Street and the adjacent Europa Avenue.
For those interested in the subject of the Indian influence and the mark it has left in Asturias, I recommend visiting other nearby towns such as Cangas de Onís, Ribadesella, Llanes and, above all, Colombres. The latter has a thematic route of impressive Indian mansions, among which La Quinta de Guadalupe, home of the Archivo de Indianos and Museum of Immigration, shines with its own light.
St. Martin’s Church and other monuments
We return to Arriondas to continue exploring its historical heritage. The Church of San Martín de Arriondas is the most visible and remarkable monument of the town. Just a few steps from the banks of the river Sella, this temple built in 1905 was commissioned to take over from the Chapel of San Martin. This small temple is located on a promontory from which there is a spectacular panoramic view of the village.
Speaking of temples, although it is about 7 kilometers from the center of Arriondas, it is worth visiting the church of San Miguel de Cofiño, a small building of medieval origin located in a spectacular natural environment.
Concordia Park
Green is the official color of Arriondas’ surroundings, but it is also the color of the urban center itself. Arriondas has great recreational areas such as the Parque de la Concordia. Located on the plain formed by the union of the Sella and Piloña rivers, this park also has a traditional hórreo (granary) and a sculpture made of steel sheets by Rubi Camín. And he is not the only one. You only have to cross the bridge to reach the Llera Park.
Descent of the Sella River by canoe
Now, yes, it is the PLANAZO in capital letters. The real reason why every year this Asturian town receives thousands of national and international visitors, the descent of the Sella. As you can see, it is not the only attraction of Arriondas, but it is the most famous and the most adrenaline-charged.
The descent of the Sella river by canoe can be started from several points along the route, but the towns of Cangas de Onis and, above all, Arriondas are the ones with more roots and active tourism companies that offer the activity. In fact, the official itinerary is the one that leads us from the bridge of Arriondas to the town of Llovio (a few kilometers before its mouth in Ribadesella) in approximately 15 kilometers.
This is a simple activity suitable for all those who can swim and have a normal physical background. The current drags you downstream and, although the descent can take about 4 hours, it is not very tiring. Along the way down you will have the opportunity to make a lot of stops at river beaches and even at beach bars scattered along the shores.
